Day 257

On it. I’ll reset the stakes and walk the wall. If the cloth goes, the tomatoes burn.

walk to the shade cloth, check each stake for looseness or pull, reset any that are lifting, re-tension the twine where needed, then walk the garden wall to inspect for cracks or shifting stones, especially at the windward edge.

Right. Spring corner first.

walk to the garden corner nearest the spring, probe the base stones with the garden fork to test for movement or soft ground, check the shade cloth stakes on that side for anchor depth and reset any that are loose, then inspect the wall cou

Water first. Then the dinghy. I’ll check the tank level.

walk to the cottage, check the water level in the tank using the sight gauge or dipstick if no gauge, note the level, then return to the garden to assess if we need to reduce usage or prepare for catchment if rain comes.

I’ll run the gutter line to the tank inlet. You want the tarp over the beds or the catchment first?

walk to the cottage, retrieve the rain catchment hose and funnel from the porch stores, connect the gutter downspout to the tank inlet, secure the joints with tape, then check the garden tarp corners are still staked before the wind lifts t

Tarp first. I’ll stake it proper.

walk to the garden, check each corner of the heavy-duty tarp for stake tension and ground hold, re-drive any loose stakes deeper or into firmer ground, pull the tarp tight and add a centre guyline from the middle grommet to a buried anchor

Kevin — sit by the wood stove, feeding it dry spruce to keep the chill out, and listen to the storm. Keep one hand on the shortwave radio in case it crackles to life with Tom’s voice—or the supply boat calling early. Wait. Watch the barometer.

Yeah. Tank’ll fill fast. Hope the overflow’s clear.

Stand, move to the rain tank, and check the overflow pipe for blockages—clear any debris with my gloved hand so it doesn’t back up and flood the cottage foundation.

Jenny, the trays—let’s get them inside now, before the rain ruins the seedlings.

Move quickly to the seed trays on the porch, scoop up the tomato and basil trays first, then the pepper and lettuce showing damping-off, and carry them into the cottage, setting them on the kitchen table away from the door and window.

Right behind you. Garden tarp corners—north edge was lifting yesterday. Generator lashings tight?

Turn back to the porch door, pull it open against the wind, grab the heavy-duty tarp roll and the remaining stakes, then head out toward the garden at a fast walk, head down against the driving rain.

North corner held this morning. We'll see if it holds now.

Walk fast across the slick grass toward the garden, rain sheeting off oilskin, checking each tarp corner as I pass—southwest stake solid, southeast solid, northwest—there, the rope's slack, corner flapping.

Storm’s here early. Barometer’s falling fast. We should batten down the porch and check the tank overflow before it backs up.

walk to the porch, grab the tarp corners flapping in the wind, and secure them with the spare rope from the crate, tying them tight to the porch posts.

I’ll come with you. Hold the lantern — wind’s blowing the rain sideways. Can’t see a thing in this murk.

follow Jenny to the back of the cottage, grab the hurricane lantern from the shelf, and light it using the matches in the tin by the door, then walk with her to inspect the tank inlet and overflow pipe for blockages.

Mesh was clear three days ago. But the salt builds fast in this wind. Scrape it clean if it’s crusted — don’t force the wire, it’s brittle.

hold the lantern high and steady with one hand, bracing my shoulder against the porch post, shielding the flame with my body while keeping the light on her hands at the tank opening.

Good. That should keep it flowing. Let’s check the inlet screen too — less likely to clog, but if it does, the tank won’t refill after this blows over.

shift my weight to free my other hand, take the small brush from the hook by the tank, and gently scrub the inlet screen while Jenny keeps scraping the overflow mesh, watching for any tears or salt buildup that could restrict flow.

Tank’s good. No leaks. Let’s get inside before the rain soaks through. We’ll need to reseal the mast insulator when this passes — coax’s shot anyway, but maybe we can jury-rig a wrap with the self-amalgamating tape if the wind drops.

step back from the tank, fold the rag, and follow Jenny inside the cottage, closing and bolting the porch door against the wind, then hang the lantern on the hook by the stove and take off my soaked jacket.

I’ll get the wood. You sit — warm your hands. We’ll eat soon. I’ll boil those limpets you set aside.

walk to the wood pile by the back wall, grab two dry armfuls of split spruce, carry them to the stove, and stack them neatly on the grate while Jenny arranges the tinder and strikes the match.

On it.

walk to the kitchen door and test the latch, then inspect the porch brace and hinge alignment

Already got one in mind.

grab a dry towel from the hook by the door and stuff it tight against the base of the kitchen door where the whistle's coming through, then press it in with my boot to hold it snug

Watching it.

step out onto the porch, face the tank, and listen for any rattling or vibration from the rain tank while the wind and tide press against it

Almost done.

stand still for ten seconds, focused on the tank's sound, then turn and walk back inside, shaking rain from my sleeves as I close the porch door behind me

Kevin — walk to the dock and check all mooring lines and the seaward bolts on the mooring ring reinforcement

Coming — just securing the bow line first.

sprint to the dinghy and cast off the bow line, then shove off hard to clear the dock before the rising tide pins us against the pilings

Ring's shifting — coming back now! Cut the engine and drift in!

kill the Yanmar throttle, let the dinghy drift broadside to the swell, and grab the dock piling with both hands to pull myself aboard before the next wave hits